Thrilled with CWG gold, focus on Olympics, says Rahul Aware’s coach

PUNE: Arjuna awardee Kaka Pawar’s akhada in Ambegaon broke out in celebrations on Thursday when his ward, Rahul Aware, clinched a wrestling gold at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Rahul defeated Canada’s Steven Takahashi in the 57kg final to clinch the title at his maiden Commonwealth Games. He won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2011 and a bronze at the Asian championships (55kg) the same year.

The proud coach, busy receiving wishes on the phone and in person, had one thing to add: “Now Tokyo 2020.”

Pawar, who has coached Rahul for more than five years, attributed the Beed-born wrestler’s success to a rigorous, six-month training regimen. “I am not surprised by the result,” Pawar told TOI. “Now it will be a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Pawar recalled the tough times Rahul had gone through in the last two years. In 2016, despite being picked for the national side for two back-to-back Olympic qualifying events in Tbilisi (Georgia) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), he was abruptly dropped for the latter. He only found out when he got a visa for Georgia and not Mongolia. He was then told that he was replaced by Sandeep Tomar and Amit Dahiya. Irked, Rahul didn’t go to Georgia and so did not qualify for Rio. He was let off with just a warning.

“Rahul was upset for many days. But he realized that only training harder would help. Tough times made him tougher,” said Pawar, “In the selection trials for the CWG, Rahul beat Amit and Sandeep.”

Rahul works for Indian Railways and started wrestling under late Harishchandra Birajdar, a Dronacharya awardee.